What We Do

We see the world as it could be

Shared Interest is an ethical investment organisation which aims to alleviate poverty by helping people in remote and disadvantaged communities, to trade and earn a living.

We act co-operatively with over 11,500 investors coming together to achieve a common goal, pooling their £40 million of investments. We then use these funds to provide loans and credit facilities primarily fair trade businesses, to ensure that fairtrade farmers are paid on time for their crops.

Your ethical investment will not make you rich but it will enrich the lives of others.

Our work is not just about providing finance on fair terms. The fair trade producers we help say that we have helped transform their communities. Last year, our members helped make a positive impact on the lives of 362,000 individuals.

Chino Henriquez, General Manager, Apicoop, Chile

“Thanks to Shared Interest' ethical investors we can work together to create livelihoods and make dreams a reality all over the world.”

How we help

Our loans and credit facilities ensure that fair trade farmers are paid on time for their crops.

Our finance helps fairtrade handcraft organisations to buy raw materials, and enables fairtrade co-operatives to pre-finance orders from their overseas buyers. From a head office based in Newcastle upon Tyne, and with support of in-country colleagues, Shared Interest reaches almost 400 fair trade organisations in over 60 countries.

Our finance supports Fairtrade products such as coffee, fresh fruit, nuts, and cocoa, as well as handcrafts such as weaved baskets and furniture.

This year we made payments totalling £62.2m to 397 organisations in 60 countries.

Fifty-one-year-old Kansole Eli, said: "I used to depend on my relatives' help to feed my family but with the improvement in my income, I was able to provide food for my children without any external help."

Shared Interest Society Limited VAT Number 135609513 Shared Interest Society Limited is registered under the Co-operative & Community Benefit Societies Act 2014. Shared Interest Foundation is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England, Company Number 4833073 and is a Charity, Registered Number 1102375. Society's Registration Number 27093R.